AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not right away, and I’m ashamed to say I made her life worse.”
“How?”
“I’d buy her old friends for an evening and fuck them near where she camped. I let her hear everything.”
Lyra’s face is stark white. I hate that I’ve become a monster to her, but she deserves to know the truth. Because she can still be saved.
“You did what you did because you were hurt,” Lyra says. “I don’t blame you for that.”
I snort in disdain. “When I signed on with Venus, I did so to save myself, knowing exactly what it would cost you,” I confess. “But I was happy to let you suffer if it meant I got to live in the paradise they promised.”
“I don’t understand. How would I suffer here?”
“You can’t keep this baby, Lyra. Even if it means we get tossed from the Initiative. It’s not worth the risk of losing you.”
“Losing me? You think having the baby will hurt me?”
“If Amber had never gotten pregnant, she could have fought off the taint a good ten more years. But she grew weak from her pregnancies, and the pollution took her. I can’t let that happen with you.”
“Is that why you wouldn’t have sex with me?”
“When I’d first agreed to go along with the Initiative, I didn’t realize I’d be paired with someone like you. Someone so innocent. Knowing what you’d be put through, I couldn’t go through with it. But a man can only hold out for so long. When you were my good girl, it was easy. You were precious to me, and I’d never hurt you. I would have died for you in a heartbeat. But that filthy role you played weakened me.” Tears well in my eyes. I can’t remember the last time I cried, but I never shed a tear for Amber. “Once I started fucking you, I couldn’t stop, so I made you into something you weren’t in my head to make it right. I can’t believe I got you pregnant!” I ball my hands into fists. “That I did that to you.”
“Brock, what happened to Amber won’t happen to me!”
“Have you seen the fucking world, Lyra? Locked away with your family all those years, did you have any idea what was going on outside? If you knew, you’d never agree to get pregnant.”
“I’ll admit I knew less than most, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have assumed the risk. I have two siblings being cared for by Venus.”
The realization is like a gut punch. “You were forced into this?”
“Initially, but then I got to know you. You’re an easy man to love when you’re not acting so crazy.”
“You can’t love me, Lyra—you can’t!”
“Is it so hard to believe? You’re a good man, Brock. You worrying about me proves that. And, surprise, surprise, I want the baby. Not just to stay here, but because I want a part of you. I love you.”
“But the way I treated you…the disgusting things I did.”
“All of which I liked. Even your darkness is addictive to me.”
Her words shock me, but I know they’re true. Venus got it right. We were meant to be together.
I set her tea on the nightstand and take her hand in mine. “You can’t have this baby, Lyra. It’s not worth the risk of losing you.”
She reaches across with her other hand and presses it to my cheek. “Women have been having babies since the dawn of mankind. Amber’s situation was unfortunate, and not at all like mine. My genes say I’m healthier than most, and I have Venus looking out for me. It’s going to be okay.”
“But—”
Her lips are on mine, kissing me with a fiery passion I feel resonating throughout my entire body.
“You’re mine, Brock. And I’m yours.” She places my hand on her belly. “And so is the baby.”
I nod, feeling a sudden urge to protect not only Lyra, but the baby growing inside her.
A beep sounds, and a door to a safe flies open. I look inside and see a rectangular device. On the screen is a picture of two children that look a lot like Lyra sitting on the laps of two adults.
Lyra mentioned she’d had siblings.
